GE: Oil & Gas Technology Reduces NOx Emissions

May 01, 2009

A cogeneration power plant in Cremona, Italy is the site of the world’s first commercial application of new 15 ppm Dry Low NOx (DLN) technology developed by GE Oil & Gas, which is capable of meeting the strictest DLN emissions standards in Europe, according to a recent press release.

The GE10 gas turbine at the plant is setting a new standard for controlling the NOx emissions for mechanical drive gas turbines, demonstrating the capability of the 15 ppm NOx emissions across a wide 50-100 percent load range.

A cogeneration combined-cycle power plant owned and operated by AEM Gestioni is supplying electric power and district heating for the town of Cremona. The train, originally supplied by the former Turbotecnica division of GE Oil & Gas, is composed of a PGT10 Steam Injection gas turbine driving an electrical generator through a speed-reducing gear box. On the same axis, a steam turbine is acting as a helper, contributing to the gross power output of the train. The steam is generated by recovering the gas turbine’s exhaust waste heat. Steam turbine exhaust is used for district heating.

The company upgraded the existing gas turbine with a more recent model to increase power and reduce emissions. As a side benefit, the increased airflow rate of the gas turbine will help produce more steam which, in turn, means extra power from the steam turbine.

GE replaced the high and low pressure module of the gas turbine as well as the combustion chamber. The upgrade also included the modification of existing auxiliaries, replacement of the control panel with a state-of-the-art Mark VI control system and certification of the new package with the latest European safety codes (e.g. ATEX, PED, etc.).